Hooray! The world’s coming to an end!

Delhi's ready to celebrate the end of the world tonight by stepping out and partying - literally - like there's no tomorrow

So, after years of preparations by doomsday-believers and dismissals by naysayers, tonight is when the Mayan prophesy is supposed to come true - the world comes to an end today as the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012. Believe in the apocalypse or not, the end of the world is reason enough to celebrate, and that's what most Delhiites will be doing tonight at doomsday-themed bashes.

Aakhri ichha puri ho Stand-up comedians Nishant Joke Singh and Daniel Fernandes will play host at the Doomsday Party at Club Patio in Gurgaon tonight. The duo has many special 'apocalypse' activities planned. "We'll get all the people on stage and give them a chance to announce their aakhri ichhas - you know, something they want to share if the world is coming to an end tonight. We have also set up church-style confession boxes, where people can come and confess their 'evil deeds', which I am sure everybody will be excited to vent after they are a few drinks down. So, even if the world doesn't end, we'll surely remind them of their 'confessions' the next day, so that they wish the world should have ended," laughs Nishant.

Sing for the moment Many karaoke cafes in the city have planned special open mic nights for people to come and sing their hearts out, leaving behind all regrets. One such place is Life Caffe in CP. They have a special karaoke night for all closet singers, giving them a chance to say what they never could before, through music. If you have something special to say to a loved one or have a romantic proposal planned before the world comes to an end, you know where to head. You can also check out places like Harry's lounge bar, Khel Gaon Marg, Rock A fella, Defence Colony Market and Cafe Cruise, Rajouri Garden.

Dance like there's no tomorrow Remember the cliche, dance like there's no tomorrow? Well, tonight is when it comes true. There are many special dance parties planned in the city to ensure that you have a night you won't forget even if the world doesn't end tonight. There's a Trapocalypse Party at Ssky Lounge, CP, and an End Of The World Party at RPM, apart from special bashes happening at Out Of The Box in Hauz Khas and Cocoa House at Vasant Vihar.

House parties Gaurav Mehta, a software engineer based in Gurgaon, is hosting an Armageddon Party for his friends. He says, "We had decided that we'll have a big Armageddon Party when we first saw the movie, 2012. I have invited my friends over and we'll start the party by watching 2012 all over again, and laughing at those losers who made groups on Facebook believing the world will actually come to an end. It's a movie marathon night with classics like Armageddon and the not-so-great-ones like The War Of The Worlds lined up."

MBA student Sarika Dhawan, who is hosting a theme party with her roommates, tells us, "It is a Friday night, so we thought, instead of a regular get-together, let's do something unique on this epic date. I saw funny messages like 'I partied like there's no To-Mayan' online, and we have printed those as posters. Basically, we'll just have a good time and at midnight, celebrate that we survived!"

How the world is celebrating its end Gear up for the end Many electronics and accessory brands are having a special end of the world sale for customers, with crazy discounts on things that people need to survive. And if the world does end, the stores promise a full refund, though we don't exactly know how that will work out.

A fresh start For $79,000 (approx `43 lakh), a resort in Mexico is offering couples "The Ultimate New Beginning" package, that includes, believe it or not, a spiritual cleansing session with a Mayan priest and a private helicopter tour of Mayan sites.

Get married The iconic Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, USA, has a variety of Apocalypse wedding packages where you can choose from ceremonies like the End of the Mayan Calendar wedding package, King of the Mayans wedding package, It's the End of the World and I Feel Fine garden wedding, Meet the Reaper wedding (with Grim Reaper or Dracula performing the ceremony), Zombie Attack End of Days wedding, or the Party Over, Oops Out of Time package.

You survived; we told you so! NASA was so confident about the world not coming to an end that they have already posted a video which they had planned to release on December 22, explaining why the world didn't come to an end on December 21. Bragging much?

How to dress for doomsday - Go as you like. It's time to live your fantasies. Who knows you might just be born in that avatar in your next birth, if there is one! - Add some gas masks, bike helmets and survival backpacks to lend the apocalypse 'feel'. You can also flaunt the beer helmet to ensure you don't die of thirst. - For those post-apocalyptic affairs, dress up as survivors. Picture how you look after a long night of partying. Now make a few holes and tears in your outfit of choice and you'll be looking like you have done some serious surviving. - Wear a shirt that reads 'I FEEL FINE', like in the song, It's The End Of The World As We Know It. - Dress up like people from the Mayan age. - Dress comfy. You want to exit the world comfortably, don't you?